nash,
what if we had a box of watch parts. What if, when we shake them, some of them combine to form useful things?
Then, what if we continue to shake them, those useful things combine with other parts to take advantage of environmental opportunities, such as using the agitation to randomly evolve? Over time it's likely.
And, what if we shake them often enough that they are capable of reproducing themselves? Over billions of years, it's not impossible at all.
I know, I'm being silly. the watchmaker analogy is silly, too. I can go to the watch shop and meet the watchmaker. I can see him work.
I can't see god work. No one can. Because god is a poor explanation for life.
DF